Majority of Greeks strongly back new coalition gov't: polls

ATHENS, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- A majority of Greeks strongly support Lucas Papademos as their new technocrat prime minister and his three-party coalition government, according to four opinion polls published on Sunday.

About 75 percent of participants in a survey conducted by pollsters MRB for Real News newspaper backed the appointment of former European Central Bank Vice President Papademos as new prime minister.

Of those polled, 68 percent said that the interim coalition was the best option at the time to secure the sixth aid tranche from European counterparts and International Monetary Fund, ratify the EU Oct. 26 agreement on further bailout loans to avert a default and lead the country to early general elections.

Six out of ten respondents supported the formation of a new unity government after the elections due in February, since no party is expected to win a strong parliamentary majority.

The conservative New Democracy party, which joined the socialist PASOK party of former Prime Minister George Papandreou to form the coalition, would win with 21.8 percent of votes, while the PASOK will secure 11.9 percent, according to the poll.

The Greek Communist Party would receive 9.5 percent of votes, the Radical Left Coalition SYRIZA 7.6 percent and the far-right Popular Orthodox Rally party, the third party to join the coalition, 6.1 percent.

Similar results were got from other surveys released in the weekend.

According to an opinion poll by Kappa Research published in To Vima daily, 72.9 percent of respondents approved of Papademos and 78 percent supported the formation of the interim administration.

The poll also showed that 42.2 percent of those polled were optimistic about the development, while 21.5 percent expressed anxiety, anger and pessimism over the outcome, fearing further harsh austerity measures.

In another survey conducted by pollster Marc for Ethnos newspaper, 79.1 percent of those polled welcomed the appointment of Papademos, while 54.1 percent said that the coalition government's term should be extended beyond February.

About 70 percent of respondents in pollster Public Issue's survey for Kathimerini newspaper strongly supported the creation of the interim administration, while one in three expressed disappointment with all political parties over their handling of the debt crisis, stating that they would opt for abstention in the next elections.